DEMOCRATS LAUNCH COORDINATED 'NO' CAMPAIGN: OBSTRUCTIONIST FRONT DEVELOPS OVER NATION'S CAPITAL

DEMOCRATS LAUNCH COORDINATED 'NO' CAMPAIGN: OBSTRUCTIONIST FRONT DEVELOPS OVER NATION'S CAPITAL

"It's unfortunate that Democrats continue to focus their efforts on blocking the priorities of the American people, cementing themselves as the minority party."
-Tracey Schmitt, RNC Press Secretary

DEMOCRAT FORECAST ON JUDGES: SEVERE OBSTRUCTION

Democrats Gleefully Plan To Obstruct President Bush's Judicial Nominees:

Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV) Has Promised To "Screw Things Up" For Senate Republicans. "If they, for whatever reason, decide to do this [change Senate rules on filibusters], it's not only wrong, they will rue the day they did it, because we will do whatever we can do to strike back ... I know procedures around here. And I know that there will still be Senate business conducted. But I will, for lack of a better word, screw things up." (Helen Dewar and Mike Allen, "GOP May Target Use Of Filibuster," The Washington Post, 12/13/04)

Reid Said Only Complaint Was That Democrats Had Not Held Up More Judicial Nominees. "Noting that the only complaint he has heard from fellow Democrats is that not enough of Bush's judicial nominees were blocked in the past four years, Reid said he is prepared 'to go behind the pool hall and see who wins this one.'" ("Washington In Brief," The Washington Post, 2/2/05)

Reid Has Even Threatened To Shut The Senate Down Over Judicial Nominees. Reid: "[N]o Senate right is more fundamental than the right to debate. Should the majority choose to break the rules that give us that right, the majority should not expect to receive cooperation from the minority in the conduct of Senate business." (Sen. Harry Reid, Letter To Sen. Bill Frist, 3/15/05)

"This Month, Democrats May Use Procedural Tricks To Stop All Senate Business And Block A Republican Effort To Eliminate Minority Filibuster Rights ..." (Joe Klein, Op-Ed, "A New Idea For Democrats: Democracy," Time, 4/11/05)

"Reid And Company Have Used The Senate Filibuster Rule To Permanently Deny Votes To Nominees With Clear Majority Support. That's Never Been Done Before." (David Reinhard, Op-Ed, "Judge Not Lest Ye Be ... Filibustered," The Oregonian, 3/17/05)

But In 2001, Reid Said, "[I] Think We Should Have Up-Or-Down Votes In The Committee And On The Floor [On Nominees]." (CNN's "Evans, Novak, Hunt & Shields," 6/9/01)

DEMOCRAT FORECAST ON SOCIAL SECURITY: STORMY OPPOSITION

Democrats Won't Move On Strengthening Social Security:

Democrat Aides Admit Party Has No Plan For Social Security And Will Not Offer Any. "House and Senate Democrats have decided against introducing an alternative Social Security reform plan yet, preferring instead to focus attention and criticism on President Bush's proposals, according to a number of senior Democratic aides." (Patrick O'Connor, "For Now, Dems Will Offer No Social Security Reforms," The Hill, 2/8/05)

Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV): "President Bush Should Forget About Privatizing Social Security. It Will Not Happen." (Sen. Harry Reid, Press Conference, 2/1/05)

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) "Has Ordered House Democrats To 'Oppose, Not Propose,' Changes To Social Security, According To A Well-Placed Democrat." (Jonathan Kaplan, "Dean Slams Bush On Town-Hall Meetings," The Hill, 3/10/05)

The Boston Globe: "Democrats Have Resisted Calls To Offer A Competing Proposal To Overhaul Social Security, Preferring To Attack Bush's Plan." (Rick Klein, "Foes Cite Progress Vs. Bush Agenda," The Boston Globe, 4/11/05)

Democrats Even Agree Their Party Is Party Of "No" On Social Security. Rep. Harold Ford Jr. (D-TN): "[T]he Democrats are going to have to get a better message on Social Security ... our only response cannot be to say, 'no.'" (Chuck Babington and Mike Allen, "Bush's Address Wins Over Few, If Any, Democrats," The Washington Post, 2/3/05)

DEMOCRAT FORECAST ON EVERYTHING ELSE: GLOOMY AND RAINY

Democrats, Editorials, And Third Parties Say Democrats Are Obstructionist:

Former Clinton White House Press Secretary & Kerry-Edwards Senior Advisor Joe Lockhart: "Democrats Are Now Clearly The Party Of Opposition." (Dan Balz, "Back In N.H., Edwards Is Mum On 2008 Run," The Washington Post, 2/6/05)

Democrat Strategists Stan Greenberg And James Carville: "Voters Are Looking For Reform, Change And New Ideas But Democrats Seem Stuck In Concrete." (Dan Balz, "Social Security Stance Risky, Democrats Told," The Washington Post, 3/8/05)

U.S. News & World Report's Gloria Borger: "Sad To Say, The Democrats Are Becoming The Party Of No." (Gloria Borger, Op-Ed, "Meet The New Party Of No," U.S. News & World Report, 2/28/05)

The Tennessean Editorial: "The Democrats Now Look Clearly Obstructionist." (Editorial, "Cease Fire On Judges," The Tennessean, 3/13/05)

Edward Lorenzen, Executive Director Of Centrists.org: "[I] Think There Is A Real Danger That If Democrats Are Perceived As Simply Defending The Status Quo, That Will Be Damaging To Them Politically." (Luiza Ch. Savage, "Silence Is Rule In Fight Over Social Security," The New York Sun, 3/9/05)

Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA): "Our Plan Is To Stop Him ... He Must Be Stopped." "The President of the United States has not given us his full plan. But what we do know about some of its provisions, slash benefits and bankrupt the social security trust fund, then why should we put a plan in? We will go -- our plan is to stop him from -- stop him. He must be stopped." (FOX News' "Special Report," 3/17/05)

"First, There Are The Nancy Pelosi Democrats. ... If Bush Is For It, They're Against It." (David Brooks, Op-Ed, "The Good, The Bad, The Ugly," The New York Times, 10/18/03) Source: Republican National Committee, April 13, 2005